Analysts compile and analyze any information relating to a company’s past, present, or future involvement in Burma, Cuba, North Korea, Northern Ireland, Iran, Sudan, and Syria. Sources include global and local media reports, research by governments and NGOs, and corporate regulatory disclosures.

Forms of Company Involvement

Company involvement in sanctioned nations may take a variety of forms, including direct ownership of facilities, dealings with government, import/export arrangements with third-party firms, or investment stakes in sanctioned-nation businesses. Global Sanctions Screening users can adjust involvement screening thresholds to meet client mandates and applicable regulations.
Screening for Positive Involvement:

Global Sanctions Screening clients can also capture companies that are playing a positive role in these countries. MSCI ESG Research notes incidence of companies that provide humanitarian services to the people of sanctioned states, including food, medical help or support for press and religious freedoms.

Research Process

A team of dedicated analysts supports MSCI ESG Global Sanctions Screening. The research and screening process is guided by a methodology that has been refined over the past 20 years by ESG research pioneers Innovest and KLD Research & Analytics.

Each Global Sanctions Screen is subject to an annual review and update. This process includes updating each company profile with the most recent information available, contacting screened companies to obtain any missing information, and conducting a systematic new company search.

On a monthly basis, relevant corporate actions, IPOs, name changes, and other corporate events are monitored and companies are updated where necessary. On a weekly basis, relevant corporate activities in the Global Sanctions universe are monitored and reviewed.  Corporate actions can include mergers, acquisitions, name changes, spin -offs, initial public offering (IPO), de-listings and changes due to country reclassification and GICS.